Duplicate
Export
Register
Pharmacology
1 Flashcard Deck
Send to Chat
AI Edit
Heading 3
Highlight
Here's your flashcard deck!
Send to Chat
AI Edit
Normal Text
Highlight
You can edit it by clicking the 'edit'! Once you have a few cards, you can begin to study it in full screen or use our AI study mode!
Flashcard Deck
Study
What is asthma?
Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by symptoms such as airflow obstruction, dyspnea, chest tightness, wheezing, sputum production, and cough associated with variable degrees of airway hyperresponsiveness to endogenous or exogenous stimuli.
Pathology of Asthma
Asthma involves inflammation of the airways and can be induced by allergens, chemical sensitizers, air pollution, viruses, and occupational exposures. It is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, airflow limitation, and symptoms such as cough, wheeze, chest tightness, and dyspnea.
Mechanisms of Asthma Inflammation
Asthma inflammation can be categorized into atopic asthma (IgE-mediated hypersensitivity), non-atopic asthma (no allergen sensitization), drug-induced asthma (sensitivity to certain drugs), occupational asthma (stimulants such as fumes, organic and chemical dusts), and exercise-induced asthma (worsening after exercise, especially in cold and dry climate).
Asthma Clinic Presentation
Clinically, bronchial asthma presents as mild intermittent asthma (responsive to bronchodilators and precipitating factors), chronic persistent asthma (due to inflammation with persistent dyspnea), severe acute asthma (does not respond to routine treatment), and exercise-induced asthma (precipitated by exercise and worsened in cold, dry climate).
Symptoms of Asthma
Symptoms of asthma include frequent episodes of breathlessness, chest tightness, wheezing, or cough, which may worsen at night, early morning, after exercise, or exposure to allergens or irritants. They improve with bronchodilators or corticosteroids.
Risk Factors for Asthma
Risk factors associated with the development of asthma include predisposing factors such as atopy, genetics, and gender, causal factors such as indoor and outdoor allergens, contributing factors such as air pollution, diet, low birth weight, respiratory infections, and smoking.
Diagnosis of Asthma
Asthma diagnosis is based on reversible airway obstruction after bronchodilator, variable airflow limitation over time, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Assessing allergic status involves breathing tests such as spirometry to test lung volumes and airflow.
Allergens
Substances that cause allergic reactions.
Occupational Sensitizers
Substances in the workplace that trigger allergies or asthma symptoms.
Outdoor Allergens
Allergens found outside, such as pollen and mold spores.
Contributing Factors
Factors that can worsen asthma, such as air pollution, diet, low birth weight, respiratory infections, and smoking.
How to Diagnose Asthma
Diagnosis based on reversible airway obstruction after bronchodilator, variable airflow limitation over time, and airway hyperresponsiveness.
Assessing Allergic Status
Involves breathing tests, spirometry testing lung volumes, peak flow monitoring, and assessing exposure to allergens like house dust mites, tobacco smoke, cockroaches, pets, mold, air pollution, trees, grass, and weed pollen.
How to Avoid Asthma Triggers
1. Reduce exposure to house dust mites 2. Reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke 3. Reduce exposure to cockroaches 4. Reduce exposure to pets 5. Reduce exposure to mold 6. Avoid air pollution 7. Minimize exposure to trees, grass, and weed pollen.
Asthma Management
Includes the use of drugs like short-acting β2 agonists, long-acting β2 agonists, systemic glucocorticosteroids, methylxanthines, anticholinergics, mast cell stabilizers, and leukotriene receptor antagonists.
Salbutamol Indications
Used for bronchospasm in bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. Also used for prophylaxis in bronchial asthma and reversible airways obstruction, often combined with bromhexine for mucus plugging.
Salbutamol Contraindications
Should not be used for labor induction, threatened abortion during the first or second trimester of pregnancy, and in cases of hypersensitivity.
Salbutamol Pharmacokinetics
Onset of action: 30 minutes orally, 5 minutes by inhalation. Duration of action: 4-8 hours orally, 3-8 hours by inhalation.
Salbutamol Dosage
Tablets: Adults - 4 mg, 3-4 times daily (max single dose 8 mg). Syrup: Adults - 5-20ml three or four times daily. Children under 2 years: not recommended. Aerosol inhalation: 100-200 micrograms, 1-2 puffs as necessary. Prophylaxis in exercise-induced bronchospasm: 200 micrograms, 2 puffs.
Salbutamol Nebules
For severe acute asthma: 25 mg-5 mg if necessary. Prophylaxis in exercise-induced bronchospasm: 200 micrograms, 2 puffs.
Salbutamol Cautions
Serious hypokalemia, concomitant treatment with theophylline and its derivatives, corticosteroids, diuretics, and hypoxia, potentiate hypokalemia.
Salbutamol Precautions
Hyperthyroidism, myocardial insufficiency, arrhythmias, susceptibility to QT prolongation, especially in IV administration, diabetics, and ketoacidosis.
Salbutamol Side Effects
Fine tremors (usually hands), nervous tension, headache, peripheral vasodilation, palpitations, tachycardia, rarely muscle cramps and hypokalemia, hypersensitivity reactions (urticaria, angioedema), slight pain on intramuscular injection.
Inhalation
The act of breathing in or drawing air into the lungs.
Rarely Muscle Cramps
Infrequent occurrence of involuntary muscle contractions or spasms.
Hypokalemia After High Doses
Low potassium levels in the blood resulting from excessive intake of potassium-depleting drugs or substances.
Hypersensitivity Urticaria and Angioedema
Extreme sensitivity leading to hives and swelling of the deeper layers of skin, often caused by allergic reactions.
Slight Pain on Intramuscular Injection
Mild discomfort or ache experienced at the site of intramuscular injection.
Formoterol Indications
Long term maintenance treatment of asthma and prevention of bronchospasm in adults and children 5 yrs. Long term maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction patients with COPD.
Formoterol Contraindications
Not indicated for patients whose asthma is significantly worsening or acutely deteriorating asthma.
Formoterol Pharmacokinetics
Rapidly absorbed.
Formoterol Dosage for Adults
Orally 160 mcg in 2 divided doses.
Formoterol Dosage for Children
Orally 4mcg per kg in two to three divided doses.
Formoterol Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy category C. May potentially interfere with uterine contractility during labor.
Formoterol Side Effects - CNS
Nervousness, headache, tremors, dizziness.
Formoterol Side Effects - CV
Angina, hypertension or hypotension, tachycardia, arrhythmias, palpitation.
Formoterol Side Effects - EENT
Dysphonia, pharyngitis.
Formoterol Side Effects - GI
Dry mouth, nausea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia.
Formoterol Side Effects - METAB
Hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis.
Formoterol Side Effects - MS
Muscle cramps.
Formoterol Side Effects - RESP
Bronchospasm, coughing.
Formoterol Side Effects - SKIN
Rash, pruritus.
Formoterol Side Effects - MISC
Fatigue, malaise, insomnia, fever.
Formoterol Patient/Family Education
Should never be used more frequently than twice daily, morning and evening, at the recommended dose.
Formoterol Interactions
Decreased action of formoterol. Cardioselective beta-blockers preferable if concurrent use necessary (e.g. following myocardial infarction), MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, aminophylline.
Formoterol Indications for Use
Acute severe asthma, obstructive airway disease, COPD, reversible airways obstruction.
Formoterol Contraindications for Use
Alcohol dependence, hyperthyroidism, peptic ulcer.
Formoterol Side Effects
Convulsions, hypokalemia, anxiety, restlessness, palpitation, tachycardia, tremors, seizures, insomnia, anorexia, black stool, abdominal pain, urinary retention, hyperglycemia, nausea, and vomiting.
Formoterol Dosage
100-300 mg TDs after meal for adults, 12 mg/kg/day for children.
Formoterol Drug Interactions
Have severe drug interactions with antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs.
Theophylline/Acefylline Indications
Asthma, bronchospasm, muscle relaxation (rapid onset, short duration), osteoarthritis.
Theophylline/Acefylline Contraindications
Seizures, urticaria, angioedema, tachyarrhythmia.
Theophylline/Acefylline Precautions
CHF, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, diabetes.
Theophylline/Acefylline Side Effects
Convulsions, anxiety, restlessness, palpitation, tachycardia, tremors, seizures, insomnia, anorexia, black stool, abdominal pain, urinary retention, hyperglycemia, nausea, and vomiting, bitter taste, GER.
Theophylline/Acefylline Dosage
Adult: 200 mg - 900 mg (max) BD, Child: 100 mg (max) - 150 mg.
Ipratropium Indications
Asthma, bronchospasm prophylaxis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, reversible airways obstruction, rhinorrhea.
Ipratropium Contraindications
Glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, hypersensitivity, urinary retention, bladder obstruction.
Ipratropium Side Effects
Tachycardia, palpitation, angina, tremors, arrhythmia, constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision, rashes, urticaria, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, nasal congestion, backache, nasal irritation, urinary retention.
Ipratropium Dosage
20 to 40 mcg.
Systemic Glucocorticosteroids Indications
Use in conjunction with other immunosuppressive agents such as cyclophosphamide and methotrexate for rheumatic disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa), renal diseases, allergic disease, bronchial asthma, infectious diseases, ocular diseases, skin diseases.
Sodium Cromoglycate Indications
Allergy, asthma.
Nodosa Renal Diseases
Prednisone dosage: 1 to 2 mg/kg for 6 weeks, followed by a gradual tapering of the dose over 6 to 8 weeks.
Allergic Disease
Prednisone dosage: varies depending on the condition (e.g., bronchial asthma, infectious diseases, ocular diseases, skin diseases).
Beclomethasone, Fluticasone Furoate, Hydrocotisone
These are corticosteroids used in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory conditions. Refer to CST (Corticosteroids) topic for more details.
Mast Cell Stabilizers
Sodium Chromoglycate: Used in the treatment of allergy, asthma, vernal conjunctivitis, food allergy, metastatic melanoma, perennial rhinitis, and prophylaxis of asthma.
Mast Cell Stabilizers - Contraindications
Hypersensitivity, patients affected by glaucoma or other serious ophthalmic diseases, hypertensive, hyperthyroid, and diabetic patients.
Mast Cell Stabilizers - Precautions
This drug should be given to children only under close supervision of a physician. Avoid administering the product during the first three months of pregnancy.
Mast Cell Stabilizers - Side Effects
Temporary burning sensations, occasional pupil dilation, systemic absorption effects, hypertension, heart disorders, hyperglycemia, increased intraocular pressure, transient headaches, and nausea.
Mast Cell Stabilizers - Interactions
Due to its vasoconstrictor activity, the product should be used with caution in patients who are being treated with antidepressants or for migraines.
Mast Cell Stabilizers - Dosage
For adults and children: 1-2 drops every 4 times daily in each eye.
Mechanism of Action of Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist
Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLT) like LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 are eicosanoids released by mast cells and eosinophils. When CysLT bind to corresponding receptors, they stimulate the pathophysiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Montelukast - Indications
Prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma, including the prevention of day and time symptoms and bronchoconstriction. Seasonal allergic rhinitis. Effective as monotherapy with maintenance treatment of chronic asthma.
Montelukast - Contraindications
Hypersensitivity.
Montelukast - Side Effects
Hypersensitivity (including anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria), hepatic abnormalities, dream abnormalities, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, vomiting, dyspepsia, and diarrhea.
Montelukast - Dosage
Adults: 10mg daily at bedtime with or without a meal. Children under 2 years: not recommended, 2-5 years: bedtime, 6-12 years: 5mg at bedtime.
Montelukast - Interactions
Drugs: Phenobarbitone, Phenytoin, Rifampicin.
Send to Chat
AI Edit
Normal Text
Highlight
Continue adding your notes here.
Scholarly Assistant's Insights
Compilation of flashcards covering a wide range of topics in pharmacology, particularly focusing on asthma and its management.
Pharmacology
Asthma
Drug Therapy
Respiratory System
Medical Conditions
+25 more
Ask Scholarly Assistant
Similar Pages
Login to Leave a Comment
Give your feedback, or leave a comment on a page to share your thoughts with the community.
Login